~The most believable lies are the ones mixed with some truth.~

CHAPTER EIGHT - PITY

The rest of the week was…hell. For Bella at least. And because she was in a terrible mood all week that meant that I too had to deal with the fall out of Edward's decisions. Jasper on the other hand got even friendlier and if the faces of some of his siblings were anything to go off of, they were very unhappy about it. But they weren't stopping him—and that confused me even more.

For the entire rest of the week Jasper had asked a plethora of questions. And it looked like he wanted me to ask some in return. But what could I really ask that didn't give away that I knew something I shouldn't? It made me want to hide from him. To keep all my little secrets to myself and stop getting closer to the danger that was brought forth by the Cullens. But I couldn't help myself.

After a few more weeks passed, Jasper and I were nearly joined at the hip. An insane thought if one were to really think about it. I felt a little silly for ever thinking Jasper was interested in that way when he had yet to ask me out and a month had already passed. Instead, we fell into a comfortable friendship. And I daresay he was even my best friend. Bella didn't count—she was family. I didn't really have any friends in this life. Sure the surface level friendliness I had in Arizona made it easy to fit into any group, but there was never communication outside of that. No hangouts at the nearest bowling alley. No lunch runs. No going to parties. No sleepovers. Not that I wanted to do any of those things specifically with Jasper.

But we had lunch together three out of the five days, always tucked safely in the library. He took me home early the other two days of the week when we didn't have lunch together. And we bickered. And it was fun. I felt like I could be myself when I was with Jasper. I was able to let the mask slide off and let out my snarky comments or horrible jokes that nobody else found funny—I'm under the impression Jasper doesn't find them very funny either but he laughs for my sake.

The only time I tried to avoid Jasper as much as possible was during that week. Yes. The one week where I felt like I was being shanked in my lower abdomen and all I wanted to do was lay on the couch with a soft blanket and inhale as many salt & vinegar chips as possible—I'm not much of an ice cream person. But he didn't make it easy for me. And it didn't help that my emotions were already all over the place.

The second month rolled around in a blink of an eye and I stood in front of my mirror looking over my outfit for what had to be the thirtieth time. It wasn't anything crazy. Brown corduroy flared out pants, a fitted cream turtleneck, and brown platform ankle boots. Jasper was on his way to pick me up. No, not a date. Just two friends hanging out on a Saturday. On Tuesday I commented about wanting to go to a record store in Seattle but I would have to drive The Beast if I went as Bella didn't feel like going.

I complained about needing to get my own vehicle soon because I would be driving all over once I did—a road trip once Bella decided to choose Edward and her vampiric life that may or may not give me a niece sounded nice. Jasper shocked me yet again, offering to come with me and he would pick me up. I was surprised his family was letting him leave town, with a human, unattended. And the location of travel was to Seattle, a major city full of people. Maybe Jasper's control wasn't nearly as bad as the series made it out to be. Bella had a few differences herself so it was bound to happen with the Cullens too.

I thought Bella would be upset or a little put off by the fact I was heading to Seattle with Jasper but she laughed in my face—as nicely as possible–and said "Jasper isn't Edward. Jasper has been nothing but nice and friendly with you unlike a certain someone he's related to. You actually seem happier these days."

And then of course she teased me mercilessly "And don't think I didn't notice it was the weekend before Valentine's Day."

I gave her a dirty look that I'm sure didn't seem all that menacing since my face was on fire, "Bella. It's not a date." She just shook her head at me and gave me a long, hard stare with her eyebrows raised.

I huffed while finishing the last braid framing my face as a knock sounded out from the front door. Why can't he just text like a normal person? I grabbed my purse and opened my door only to pause as Bella's door was flung open and her eyes shamelessly raked down my body. She cocked an eyebrow, hand gesturing up and down at my outfit in a silent question. I ignored her as moved down the stairs, not paying her any mind as she followed quickly behind me. Bella was never athletic or coordinated—but that seemed to only apply when she wasn't trying to stalk me out of the house.

I grabbed my coat and opened the door, wanting to die as my heart damn near stopped at how he looked. It should be illegal to dazzle someone the way Jasper Hale always dazzles me. Hmm arrested…handcuffs…no. Not going there. I punch the thought out of my mind and I am glad Bella is being kind of weird because it really helps bring me back to reality.

She hangs around, saying she'll lock the door as I leave and I know she just wants to spy on us. To try and prove me wrong. Which she won't. As I step out of the door, Jasper holds his hand out for me on the stairs mumbling that it could be icy and he doesn't want me to slip. I glance down, noting the wetness and potential black ice hazard and take his hand quickly.

As we walk toward the car, which I just noticed is not the Jeep or Volvo. I am terrible with car names however but it looks sporty. Dangerous to drive in wet conditions but Jasper is a vampire so I'm putting my faith in his capabilities to not send me to an early grave. As I turn back to wave at Bella she's smirking deviously before she opens her mouth and shouts, "Have a good date!"

My throat squeezes in panic as my heart thumps wildly because what if Jasper thinks I told Bella it is a date? Or that I thought it was a date or anything on that level? So I do the only thing I can and screech, "It's not a date!"

I could practically see Bella roll her eyes and mutter "right" but I was too busy trying to avoid Jasper's eyes. Jasper in all his kindness just chuckles and I want to throw myself off the nearest cliff—which isn't that far away and totally doable. He doesn't say anything as he opens my door, being ever the gentleman. It should not make my heart do a little spin but here we are. I slide into the seat—the interior looks just as expensive as the exterior and I'm scared to even put my feet inside. I carefully set them on the mat and sit back rigidly before buckling in.

Jasper walks around to the driver's side and I take the time to glance back at the house only to be mortified when Bella is still leaning against the doorframe. She wiggles her eyebrows and waves before—finally—closing the door. My attention is back on Jasper almost immediately as the engine purrs to life.

"I am so sorry for her." I apologize, embarrassment on full display.

He gives a little smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes and I can only think that he doesn't like the thought of a date with me and that hurts more than I'm ready to admit. He hits the gas as he assures me, "It's okay. I'm used to Emmett's teasing. Which is by far worse than Bella's no doubt."

I couldn't tell if he was just trying to put me at ease or not but I was curious if any of the Cullens had said something about our little outing. I doubt anything good was said but I still wondered. I tried to lighten the mood by explaining—defending—Bella's unusual behavior, "She's not normally like that, really. I think she's just excited. I don't usually hangout with anyone besides her."

He glances over and I notice his eyes that were ochre yesterday are now back their glimmering whiskey, "Emmett was surprised I was even leaving the house. Much less going with someone."

I noticed we both were avoiding the term 'going out'—it almost felt too heavy, too real. "Mm. Bella's used to me being adventurous on my own but even in Arizona I never really spent time with anyone from school outside of school." His expression is telling, like he doesn't believe me. I pop my lips, "It's true." I lean in a bit closer to him, being sure to avoid physical contact as I divulge, "You're actually the only person I've come out to do something willingly with on a weekend besides Bella or my parents."

His head whips to me and my heart jumps in my throat from the look of pure adoration and joy. And my heart is soaring. Not listening to a word my brain is saying as my blood feels electric. It's only when I notice how long we've probably been staring into each other's eyes as we drive down a slick road that my attention is back in front of us.

Jasper takes a moment longer to look back and it's like he enjoys listening to my heart nearly go into cardiac arrest as he speaks in the same husky tone that was used on me the first day of school—the same one that hasn't made an appearance since and no I wasn't upset about it. Really. "I am most honored that you accepted my invitation, Vega." The way he said my name nearly had my eyes rolling back into my head and I just had a gut feeling it would be making a star appearance in a dream in the future.

The rest of the drive was peaceful if not a little odd. I pushed the fact that Jasper could feel and smell everything about me to the darkest corners of my mind—it's not something I wanted to stress about and ruin a good day. Finally having an outing with a friend. Gosh, I was way too giddy about it all. But the nerves calmed down as we made our way into Seattle, my eyes too preoccupied with looking around and I was completely back to normal, if not a bit more excitable, once we were inside the record store. The trip overall was amazing and my collection was three records larger than before.

I never expected the Seattle weekend to be a gateway for more invitations—always small trips to somewhere that wasn't that crowded. An antique store in here, another record store there, or a bookstore that held nothing I was interested in but had Jasper purchasing two books from. I had some raised eyebrows when they were books that I'm certain he had seen me reading during school but I kept quiet. Maybe Jasper just really liked fantasy romance about the supernatural. It wasn't my place to judge when I was reading fairy smut.

The weeks spent with Jasper doing the most mundane things became my new normalcy and the comfort I found in his presence distracted me from the fact that I should be far more worried about the Cullens being vampires than I was.

March blew in—literally. The air was cold as fuck and I swore it was going right through my coat and me. My bones hurt and I couldn't feel my nose. When Bella pulled into the parking lot I didn't want to get out of The Beast that had finally warmed up and Bella had to practically yank me out. I barely made it up the steps when Jasper appeared at my side with a thermos, contents unknown to me. Bella peeked back and the sparkle in her eyes was hard to miss. She was adamant that Jasper and I were dating but not labeling it. And I was adamant that we were just best friends. I took the thermos in his outstretched hand with my glove covered ones, "What is it?" I ask curiously.

"Coffee. With brown sugar and almond milk." He responded, his eyes watching for my reaction.

I was surprised that he paid attention when we stopped at coffee shops during our outings. It was my go-to order. "You made it?" I peer at him, head tilted.

He looked bashful and a little guilty, "Rosalie actually helped me." I discreetly eyed the thermos like it could be a Trojan horse filled with poison. Surely she wouldn't be so obvious though, right?

I glance down the stairs and toward the group of Cullens still hanging out by their cars for some reason. They were doing a terrible job at blending in when it was so cold out—no normal human willingly stayed in this weather unless there was a snowball fight. My eyes found the bombshell who I felt like was looking at us but I couldn't see her eyes, "Rosalie likes coffee?"

He clears his throat a bit, "Ah, she prefers tea but she knows more about coffee than myself."

"Hmm. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. I definitely need this today." I pointedly glowered at the grey covered sky, "Make sure to thank her for me too, please?"

We were about to be at my first class and I only just became aware that Jasper walked me the whole way. His behavior was a little odd—like he was nervous. The next thing out of his mouth made it all make sense, "I was actually wondering if you would like to have lunch with me—with us." My face must've said it all because he quickly suggested, "Then you can tell Rosalie thank you yourself."

He wasn't wrong. And I hated that. But I also didn't want the entire cafeteria to stare at me like a zoo animal. "What if we compromise?" I offer instead. He asked what I meant and I knew we were running out of time before class started so I rushed out, "What if I meet Rosalie and Alice but in the library during lunch? I just don't think I can handle all the gawking again so soon if I chose to sit with you guys in the cafeteria."

My explanation seemed to be enough so he said he'd ask them and let me know what they said. I gave him a large grin and shook the thermos before thanking him again before practically skipping into class, promising I'd see him in art.

Rosalie and Alice did agree to have lunch in the library so I was prepared for that. The two were so different I was almost getting whiplash however. I was also startled to find out they forced Jasper to the cafeteria, saying it was girls only. So petty for people so old, I knew they just wanted to grill me.

Rosalie's eyes weren't as cold as before and Alice was practically vibrating in her seat. I pointedly ignored that neither touched their food as they fired off question after question. Rosalie was more talkative than I initially thought she was going to be, asking where I got a certain pair of boots or what I thought of Jasper's car—that I still didn't know the model of.

Alice was speaking almost nonstop with wilder questions ranging from if I wanted to travel to Milan for fashion week to how many boyfriends I've had. She didn't let Jasper off easy either as she threw out that Jasper was single, had been single, and has not ever had a girlfriend. Of course she didn't know that I knew about his past or his sire and whatever weird fucked up relationship that was. So I guess she was right about him never having a girlfriend.

"I don't have a boyfriend and I didn't date in Arizona either. Guys there just weren't doing it for me." I confided as I sighed.

Rosalie's lips twitched and I felt like she was recalling the rather brutal rejection of Mike Newton. "What kind of guys are you into?" Alice has no personal boundaries as she openly questions me and I'm just happy the library is alway empty.

I shrug, "I'm not really looking but I feel like I'll know when I find him." The answer was noncommittal and it also made it clear I wasn't into Jasper–only a little fib–nor seeking anything more than the comfortable friendship we had.

"What about Jasper?" Rosalie asks, leaning forward a bit. Her eyes are full of amusement and curiosity but her face is stern and I can't decide what answer she'd prefer to hear.

I'm sure they both heard my heart stop and the almost silent strangled sound I let out but they were good at pretending they didn't—at least in front of me. "Umm…" I trail off and avoid their eyes as I answer as honestly as I could, "Jasper is really good looking. But I only see him as a friend. There's nothing wrong with Jasper, I just don't see myself dating any time soon."

The most believable lies are the ones mixed with some truth. Jasper was attractive, my ideal type really. Okay he was more than attractive but I wouldn't act on such primal urges—he was a vampire after all. And I did want Jasper to only be my friend but my heart definitely was feeling something more than that. My brain was rioting at the mere thought of it all.

Rosalie leaned back, "Pity."

The word was spoken at a normal volume yet it felt deafening to me. Alice didn't waste time though and I felt like a man who was in the 1800's trying to be sold on a bride as she listed all of his amazingly good qualities and then leaned closer and whispered as if she held the greatest of all secrets, "He never talks to people much less hangs out with them. I think he really likes you."

That information was the nail in the coffin for my heart that was already gallivanting through fantasy after fantasy, all starring Jasper as the main character and me, his lovely bride to be. It was intense.

I psshhed, rolling my eyes a bit as I tried to seem like I didn't believe her for a minute, "Jasper is like so out of my league it's hilarious. We just happen to like a lot of the same time stuff. And to be fair, I barely speak to anyone here." I tried to really downplay the entire situation and if I knew how hard that would come back to bite me I probably would've responded a little differently.